Technology Proves Useful in Haiti Relief Fund Drive

Shashi Bellamkonda January 13, 2010 Tweet

RedCross on Twitter #90999

Editor’s Note: This article was written by Shashi Bellamkonda. He blogs at:blog.networksolutions.com and shashi.name. You can follow him on Twitter at:@shashib.

The Washington Post live blog on Haiti is reporting that “Charitable giving for crisis reaching record totals. Organizations raising money for Haitian relief efforts online say that the early response is reaching record-breaking totals “. Reporter Cecilia Kang posted on Twitter “Today biggest day in mobile giving, more than $1 million to Haiti relief.”

The Red Cross says “There has been an outpouring of support from the public. To help, people can make an unrestricted donation to the International Response Fund at www.redcross.org or by calling 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767). The public can also help by texting “Haiti” to 90999 to send a $10 donation to the Red Cross, through an effort backed by the U.S. State Department. Funds will go to support American Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti.”

Crystal Nicole Davis of Sprint has a post “Haiti’s Relief Efforts: How Mobile Giving Works”

Quote from the Blog:

For Sprint customers that want to help with the relief efforts, you can donate using your mobile phone. And if you’ve never done mobile giving before, this is how it works.

•Sprint and most of the major U.S. carriers work with mobile giving partners who in turn distribute the text message donations to participating nonprofit and relief agencies. Your choices for the Haiti relief efforts include:
•Text “Yele” to 501501 to donate $5 on behalf of the Yéle Foundation, the leading contributor to rebuilding Haiti founded by Wyclef Jean.
•Text “Haiti” to 20222 to donate $10 on behalf of The Clinton Foundation (fmr President Clinton is Special Envoy to Haiti)
•Text “Haiti” to 85944 to donate $5 on behalf of the Rescue Union Mission and MedCorp International.
•Text “Haiti” to 25383 to donate $5 on behalf of the Internal Rescue Committee.
•Text “Haiti” to 90999 to donate $10 on behalf of the Red Cross in the U.S.
•Customers receive a request asking to confirm the donation by replying “YES”.
•The donation is added to their service provider bill, in addition to any other text messaging or data charges that are applicable to their particular phone plan.
•Sprint gives all of the resulting donations to the mobile giving partners.
•The mobile giving partners give these donations to the respective organization for its relief effort.

During our research we also discovered a company MGive that helps non-profits collect mobile donations

We would like to support the Haiti effort and hope you will do your best to support. Technology when used for good absolutely rocks. From any phone or any provider you should be able to send a text message Haiti to 90999 and your carrier will charge $10 dollars to your monthly telephone bill.